e~Aurora
A weekly news update from The Alaska United Methodist Conference
Aurora
A Message from Bishop Grant Hagiya
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Once again I must ask for your prayers of compassion.  The tragic shootings and loss of 49 innocent lives, with 53 others injured, is incomprehensible.  The fact that these people were targeted because of their sexual orientation is inexcusable, and we cannot let hate carry the day.  We must respond in love and fidelity to God.  Read more of Bishop's message here.

He has asked that all of us set aside a time of prayer for today, Tuesday, June 14.  
General Conference Affirmed Next Global Health Initiative
Last month, during United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Ore., the denomination affirmed Abundant Health: Our Promise to Children as the next step in its global health initiative. Through it, the church commits itself to reach 1 million children with lifesaving interventions by 2020.

Coordinated by Global Ministries, Abundant Health will focus on four core areas impacting the health of children throughout the world. It will aim to ensure safe births, address nutritional challenges and promote breastfeeding, advance prevention and treatment of childhood diseases, and promote children's health and wholeness.

The program also will engage at least 10,000 churches in the United States to develop support systems for treatment, education, and disease prevention in their neighborhoods. Global Ministries will encourage churches to promote physical activities, promote a healthy diet and nutrition, provide education for tobacco- and drug-free living, and promote mental health education.

Read the full story here and visit the Abundant Health web page at www.umcabundanthealth.org.
New York Conference Commissions, Ordains Gay Clergy
The New York Annual Conference commissioned, recognized, or ordained 33 individuals on June 11 at Hofstra University in what Bishop Jane Allen Middleton called an "historic ordination service." Four of the clergy candidates had come out as gay earlier this year. The Rev. Joanne S. Utley, editor of The Vision for the conference, reports.
Read the story
AK Child & Family Flag Day
Make sure you mark your calendars now for the annual Flag Day celebration at AK Child & Family.  This year, the celebration will take place on Saturday, July 9th from 5:30 - 8:30 pm.  Find out more information here!
Obituary
Geraldine Havens, the wife of former Alaskan pastor, the late Reeves Havens, passed away on May 14th.  Her husband served in Nome, Ketchikan, Anchorage, and Juneau.  You can view her obituary here.
Alaska United Methodist Camps
Eagle River United Methodist Camp
Eagle River United Methodist Camp located in Juneau, Alaska will be having Discovery Camp for kids going into 3rd thru 8th grade. The dates for camp are July 17th - July 21st. This year's theme is "Power Up". To sign-up please contact the Sitka United Methodist Church at 907-747-8775 for a registration form. Children from other communities in Southeast Alaska and beyond are welcome to participate.   Let's get together for camp!!!

Birchwood Camp
MAD Camp presents The Old Testament Fast Forward
Campers learn a musical in just five days at Birchwood's Music and Drama (MAD) camp and end their week by performing for YOU! This year we'll be telling many stories of love, forgiveness, courage & promise from the Old Testament... and doing it all in just 45 minutes!! Support our young actors by attending our 2016 MAD Camp performances:

Saturday, June 18 at 7:00 pm
St. John UMC, Anchorage 

Sunday, June 19 at 6:30 pm
UMC of Chugiak 
Sweezey Farewell
Birchwood Camp will be hosting a Send Off for Stephen and Marie Sweezey on Saturday, June 25th at Birchwood Camp. Dinner will be at 6 PM and the Farewell program will begin at 7:30 PM.  Please bring a potluck dish to share.  Beverages, hotdogs, burgers, condiments, and s'more fixings will be provided!

In the spirit of camping, please wear your favorite Birchwood Camp t-shirt or hoody.

Please bring a care card for Stephen and Marie expressing your farewell thoughts and best wishes.  If you are unable to attend, please send your care cards to: Birchwood Camp, PO Box 670049, Chugiak, AK 99567.  Feel free to spread the word to others who would like to wish Stephen and Marie farewell.
Upcoming Events
JUNE
18: MAD Camp performance at St. John UMC
19: MAD Camp performance at UMC of Chugiak
25: Sweezey Farewell at Birchwood Camp

JULY
4: Independence Day - Office Closed
9: Flag Day at AK Child & Family
13-16: Western Jurisdiction Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona.  Carlo attending
19-August 18: Carlo on vacation in the Philippines
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Upcoming
Clergy Birthdays
June 27: Teri Erbele
July 11: Bob Smith
July 21: Lisa Talbott



Conference Office
907-333-5050

Superintendent Carlo
907-854-8340
Submissions - If you have an article or event that you would like to share with the rest of the conference, submit it to the conference office by Monday evening for consideration.
AUMC Logo Mission Statement:
The mission of the United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ.  Held and supported by the transforming relationship with God through Christ, we of the Alaska United Methodist Conference seek to be a community that creates a home for all peoples, finds our hope through grace and journeys together into God's preferred future.
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